March 26, 2002

CONTACT:

Potential Students Contact:
School of Nursing: 404-651-3040

Susan Kelley, (404) 651-3030
Dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences

Alice Demi, (404) 651-4051
Acting director of the School of Nursing

Angela Arnold, (404) 651-1835
College of Health and Human Sciences

Stacie Sutton, (404) 651-3576
University Relations

Georgia State to offer state's first accelerated nursing degree

Program designed to ease nursing shortage without compromising quality

ATLANTA - A recently approved accelerated nursing degree at Georgia State University will help alleviate Georgia's nursing shortage by providing hospitals with qualified nurses faster, administrators say. The program is the state's first expedited baccalaureate nursing degree backed by the Georgia Board of Nursing.

Since Georgia State's accelerated program prepares students with the same number of classes as the traditional curriculum, the quality of nurses entering the workforce won't be compromised. The accelerated degree simply gives science-savvy students a way to achieve a nursing education more quickly.

"We believe this innovative approach will help us prepare high-quality nurses who can join the health-care workforce in a more timely manner," said Susan Kelley, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences at Georgia State. "We're taking proactive steps to help alleviate the critical shortage of nurses in Georgia."

A 2001 government-sponsored report estimates that, within the next two decades, Georgia will be 12,000 nurses short of the 72,000 needed to serve the state's residents. Georgia's vacancy rate for hospital nurses now hovers at 13 percent. There are even more empty nursing positions – 19 percent – in the metro Atlanta area.

To get much-needed nurses into the workforce quickly, Georgia State's accelerated curriculum can be completed in four semesters instead of the usual six. Students in the accelerated program take the same total number of classes as students earning the traditional nursing degree, but they enroll in more classes each semester and attend classes during the summer.

"This program is for highly motivated individuals interested in pursuing a career that is both challenging and rewarding," said Alice Demi, acting director of Georgia State's School of Nursing. "Students in the program must be committed to completing degree requirements at a faster pace."

Because the accelerated degree requires a heavier workload, admission standards are tougher. Only applicants with strong college-level science backgrounds will be considered, and higher grade-point averages are required. Administrators also strongly discourage students from working while enrolled.

The new program is likely to attract many people who already have science degrees and want to make a career change, Demi said. Already, 15 percent of students enrolled in Georgia State's baccalaureate nursing program hold degrees in other disciplines, mostly biology.

Classes in the accelerated nursing degree program will start this fall, and several students already have applied for the program. Of the 96 new students to be admitted to the School of Nursing, 24 will be enrolled in the accelerated degree.

The first graduating class from the expedited program is expected to enter the health-care workforce in December 2003.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Georgia State's nursing classes are available for photo opportunities. For a class schedule, contact Angela Arnold at 404/651-1835.